Fence-post.



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APPLICATION FILED SEPT.21, 1905.

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N0. 812,109. PATENTED PBB. 6, 1906. G. R. WYATT.

PENGE POST.

APPLICATION I'ILED SBP'LZI, 1905.

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GEORGE RUSSELL WYATT, OF RED W'OOD CITY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-FOURTH TO XVALTER M. BARRET AND ONE-FOURTH TO ED- TARD F.FITZPATRICK, OF REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA.

FENCE-POST.

Panent'ea Feb. e, 1906.

Application filed September 21,1905. Serial No. 27 9,4=2l.

To r/,ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEonGE RUssELL VVYATT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Redwood City, in the county of San Mateo andState of California, have invented a newl and Improved Fence-Post, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fence-posts, one obj ect being to provide ametal fence-post of novel construction that renders it especially welladapted for receiving and supporting fence-wire material, that may beeither separate wires or material woven from Wires.

A further object is to provide novel means which coperate with the postsfor stretching and looking fence material upon a plurality of novelposts.

A further object is to provide braces of novel construction forsupporting the fenceposts and for maintaining the fence-wire inaterialstretched taut; and a further object is to provide a novelprotecting-casing for the base portion of the posts.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specilication,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the ligures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fence employing my novel postand the novel construction at a corner of the fence. Fig. 2 is anenlarged, broken, and partly-sectional exterior side view of theimproved fence. Fig. 3 is a broken and partly-sectional plan view of theimprovement, substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the upper portion of one of the improved fence-postsemployed at a right-angular corner of the fence, and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a novel looking-key employed.

The improvement is shown as applied for the support of fence-wires inorder to illustrate clearly the advantages of its special construction.

The improved fence-post that constitutes the essential feature of theinvention is preferably cast into form from malleable iron or softsteel, and while they are essentially the same the corner-posts forafence Where the fence-line turns at a right angle differ some- What indetail from the line-posts or those intermediate the corner-posts.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 at the right the lineposts are represented, asindicated by the reference character 10 and comprise the followingdetails: The body 10 is uadrangular in coss-section and of a suitab elength for effective service, and in the flat side, that is preferablyoutermost When erected for service, a vertical channel a is formed at ornear the center of Width had by the post-body, said channel extendingfrom a point at or near the normally upper end of the post-body toanotherpoint that is near the surface of the ground when the post is inposition for support of other fence material. As indicated at a' in 3 atthe right, the channel a in the line-post body 10 is undercut in itsdefining side walls, and the bottom wall a) of said channel ispreferably depressed to give it obr trise-angular form, although thisshapefor the bottom of the channel may be somewhat changed withoutmaterially affecting the utility of this detail. At suitable intervalssimilar notches b are formed in the outer corners of the post-body thatcommunicate With the channel (L by cutting through the side wallsthereof, these two series of preferably equally-spaced notches extendingfrom near the upper end of the post-body to a point near the bottom ofthe channel a, as appears at the right in Fig. 2. The depth of thenotches b is less than that of the channel a, and the bottoms of thenotches are preferably equally distant from the front side of thepost-body, but below the undercut formations a'. The notches b are of aproper vertical Width for accommodation of fenee-Wires 11, and thespaces between said notches leave ears b' remain intact With the body ofthe post, said ears of angular form being substantially hook-shaped,trending toward the channel a from each side wall of the post. Each pairof notches b, that are disposed opposite each other or in the sameplane, Will receive a fence wire 11, which may be stretched taut acrossthe post and bedded in said paired notches.

A keeper-key 12, or, if preferred, a plurality of similar ones, isemployed for seouring the fence-wres 11 m the notches b and in the IQO -nels e that each have parallel sides are undertions.

channel a at its bottom,-said keeper-key com- .prising a straight bar ofmetal, rabbeted on its normally front corners and having a Width thatadapts it to loosely fit in the channel a, the remaining portion of thekey-body being shaped to fit laterally under the hook members of theears b' and the inner side thereof that is obtuse angular, conforming insh'iipe to that of the bottom 112 of the channe a.

It will be seen that if a series of fencewires 11 are held bycorresponding ends and are stretched across a series of line-posts 10that have been erected at proper intervals, the wires occupyingv thenotches b in parallel planes, all of said wires may be successivelySecured upon the posts 10 by forcibly inserting the keeper-key 12 downinto the channel v a of a respective post 10 and to facilitate thisinsertion the inserted end of the key is tapered or given Wedge shape,as is shown at c in Fig. 5. To further eXplain the operati on, thekeeper-key is driven down into the channel a with its wedge-shaped endlowermostand toward the wires 11, which will cause the wires to besuccessively embedded in the channel a, they taking the form of theangular bottom az, which will kink the wires so that they will be heldfrom lateral movement on the posts.

The corner post 14 for a fence -line is mainly similar to the post 10,with the exception that as the post 14 must have two outer faces topermit fence wires to be held stretched at a right angle one with theother at said corner. The construction for a corner-post, that isplainly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises the following details: Thebody 14 is quadrangular and may have equal length with the line-posts10, so that when planted the fence-posts may all have the same heightfrom the ground as is shown for a corner-post and a line-post in Fig. 2.In each of two adjacent sides of the corner-post 14 that are disposedoutermost in service and at aright angle one with the other a longitudi--nal channel e is formed at the transverse center thereof, thesechannels having a width and depth preferably the same as that given tothe channel (L in a line-post 10. The chancut, as at e', and thus arewidened below the shoulders produced by the undercut forma- The bottomsurface 62 of each channel e is concaved, preferably in obtuse-angularform, similar to the channel-bottoms (12,

and, as shown in Fig. 3 at the left, each channel e is adapted for thefree insertion downwardly therein of keeper-keys 12,that are duplicatesof those provided for the lineposts 10 In the three corners of thecorner-post 14 that are outermost grooves or notches g are formedthat-are equally spaced apart, leaving a' series of ears g/ remainingintact with the body of the post, these notchesl and ears being similar'to those formed on the posts 10.

The posts 10 and 14 are each preferably crete, wherein the lower portionof the post is -closely fitted, and these casings may be molded aroundthe posts before the latter ane erected, or in some soils that are ofstiff clay or loam that will permit the formation of suitableexcavations the posts may be erected in the post-holes and the casingsformed of plastic material that is introduced around the post-bodieswhile the latter are in erected positions. The casings 15 may haveprojecting flanges 15a formed at their lower ends to serve as anchorsfor holding the posts upright, and the posts may have lugs h'formed ontheir lower ends, which, by'embedment in the plastic material of thecasings, will unite the post-body and casing in an obvious manner.

When a line of spaced posts 10 are erected together With one or morecorner-posts 14, the wires 11 may be strung around the outer Forner ofeach post 14, and thence extended awayV therefrom for a seatedengagement in appropriate notches b in the outer faces of the line-posts10. temporarily Secured on the corner-post by bending the end portion ofthe wire around the hoop-like ears g', thus forming a loop on the wire,from which the latter may be eX- tended in an appropriate notch g towardand into engagement with similar notches b in successive line-posts 10,and at any one of said posts the fence-wire may be held temporarily theears b', the same as has been explained 4with regard to the ear g' onthe corner-post.

The fence-wires 11 may be all strung on the posts before theintroduction of the keeperkeys 12, or they may be placed upon the postsand Secured by the keys successively, as may be preferred in eithercase. The wires, if first drawn in the notches so as to be measurablytaut, will be rendered quite taut and at the same time firmly Secured inplace by the complete insertion of the keeper-keys, as hereinbeforeexplained.

v Each post 10 14 may have a cap-piece i secured on its upper end by ascrew or other means, these caps overlapping the upper ends of thekeeper-keys 12, thus aifording an ornamental iinish to the posts andpreventing an upward movement of said keys until the caps are taken offof. the posts.

In the corner-post 14, near the upper end, two rectangular grooves m areformed in each remaining side thereof, these adjacent grooves extendingacross the post, preferably in the ears g', as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and4, and in the bottom ofeach groove m a plurality of serrations areformed, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Two similar brace-rods 16are employed for stifiening the fence at a corfurnished with a casing 15of cement or con- The wires 11 may each be Iooy by kinkingthe wirearound one of ner thereof, each brace-rod having sufiicient length toextend diagonally from the upper end of the corner-post 14 to the top ofthe casing 15, that is about level With the surface of the ground andsupports the line-post 10 that is nearest to the corner-post andopposite a side of the post having one of the crossgrooves m therein. Onthe end of the bracerod 16 that is to engage within one of thecross-grooves m a flattened limb n is formed, having such thickness aswill permit it to fit loosely within the upper transverse groove m inthe side of the post 14 that is to be supported by the brace-rod. Thelimb n is bent at an obtuse angle on the body of the bracerod, thusadapting the limb for insertion within the groove m when the rod isinclined downward and toward an opposite post 10. The transverse edgethat defines the end of the limb n is serrated to correspond With theserrations in the bottom of the transverse groove mit is to occupy, sothat when the serrations on the limb are bedded between those in thebottom of the groove the limb will be held from sliding laterally insaid groove.

The lower end of the diagonally-disposed brace-rod 16 is furnished witha foot-fiange g, that is extended therefrom at an obtuse angle, so as torender the flange level when the brace-rod is in position for service,and, as is shown in Fig. 3 at the right, a flat-bottomed notch is formedin the flange g, leaving an ear stand at each side edge thereof, and thespace between said ears o' is so proportioned to the thickness of thelower portion of the linepost 10 that the fiange 0 may be presseddownward into engagement with the post, while the ears o'loosely embracethe front and rear sides thereof at their edges, the flange o thenresting up on the top end of the casing 15. It will be noticed that whenthe brace-rod 1 6 has been placed in position to stiffen the front lineof fence shown in Fig. 1 the post 14 at the left corner of the fencewhere two lines join at a right angle will be effectively braced againstyielding toward the post 10, which would slacken the fence-wires betweenthe corneri post and the line-post.

If from any cause the brace-rod 16 becomes loose while the limb nthereon is engaged within the upper transverse groove m, the brace-rodmay be laterally displaced from said upper groove and the limb n beplaced in the groove m next below the upper one. The brace-rod is nowforced down at its lower end into engagement with the nearest front post10, and as the distance between the engaged lower groove is less thanthat between the upper groove and the base of the line-post it will beobvious that the brace-rod will now hold the corner-post upright, thisengagement of parts being shown in Fig. 2.

The description of the construction and application of the brace-rod 16for stifening the front line of fence applies also to the other linethat extends at a right angle from the front line, and, as indicated atthe left in Fig. 1, the brace-rod 16, that is the duplicate of the onealready described, may in a like manner be placed in position betweenthe corner-post 14, and the nearest post 10 on the side line of fence,effectively bracing the post 14 against lateral strain.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. A metal fence-post, having a longitudinal channeltherein said channel having parallel undercut side walls and an angularbottom wall, and. also formed with a series of notches in correspondingcorners of the post, a series of hook members sp aced by the notches insaid corners, and a keeper-key shaped to fit into the channel andinsertible therein through one end thereof, the key when insertedbearing upon the fence-wire material that occupies the notches and isseated upon the bottom of the channel by the introduction of said key.

2. A fence post having a quadrangular body, a longitudinal channeltherein, and notched at intervals in corresponding corners, said notchesintersecting the channel, said channel having its side walls undercut soas to widen it near the bottom thereof, said bottom havingobtuse-angular form, a series of angular hook members at each cornerthat is adjacent to the channel, free ends of said hook membersconstituting the side walls of the channel, a fence-wire stretched ineachl pair of opposite notches across the bottom of the channel, and akeeper-key fitting in the channel and laterally below the hook members,the key being insertible only through one end of the channel, andadapted for bearing upon the fence-wires and kinking them into contactwith the angular bottom of the channel.

3. A corner-post to a fence, having a channel eXtended longitudinally intwo sides that together form a right angle, each channel having parallelsides that are undercut, and the bottom of each channel renderedobtuse-angular in form, each of the three corners of the post nearest tothe channels therein having spaced transverse notches therein whichintersect respective channels, hook-like angular members on corners ofthe post spaced apart in series by the notches, and keeperkeys fittedloosely in respective channels so as to bear upon the fence-wirematerial that occupies the notches.

4. A keeper-key for a fence-post, rabbeted on side edges at oppositecorners giving it T shape in cross-section, and thus adapted to slideendwise into an undercut channel in the side of said fence-post, wherebyto secure fence-wire material embedded in the channel.

5. A fence -post having a transverse groove in the upper-portion of itsbody having serrations in its bottom surface, and a TOO IIO

braoe-rod having a fiat limb serrated on the transverse end Wallthereof, said lirnb being adapted for entering the transverse groove andengagingthe serrations on its end With those in the bottom of thegroove.

6. A prop-braee for a eorner fence-post, oomprising a metal rodflattened near each end, and bent Where fiattened at an obtuse angle onthe body of the braoe-rod, thus produoing a fiat limb on one end thatenters a transverse reotangular notoh in a side of the corner-post nearits upper end, and a notohed or open slotted fiange at the norm'allyVlower end of the brace rod, said fiange having straddling engagernentWith the lower por- 15 tion of a line-fenoe post, Whereby to hold theoorner-post ereot.

In testimony Whereof I have signed my name to this speoification in thepresenee of two subscrbing Witnesses.

GEORGE RUSSELL WYATT.

Witnesses:

GEORGE HOLDEN, O. F. STATLER.

